The epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption.

Here I am sandwiched between the 2 hotties

As I’ve stated before many times, I am a fangirl; a fangirl
that loves meeting new celebrities –and if I get to ask them some questions,
even better!

I was asked to go cover the press table for the upcoming
super action-packed Ben-Hur and that two of the main cast would be there. Well,
it was none other than Ben-Hur himself (played by Jack Huston) and Jesus Christ
(played by Rodrigo Santoro). I had seen Jack earlier this year in his role as
Lt. George Wickham in “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (alongside my love,
Matt Smith), so I was somewhat familiar with him. Rodrigo I hadn’t seen before,
but I have now promised myself to check out some of his work because, after
meeting him, I am that much more eager to see it!

I was very excited to meet these two incredibly talented actors
because I have a great love for acting and, to me, meeting two fine and
well-known actors is an honor. I have to say that these two were absolute and
complete gentlemen: they were courteous, really looked each one of us in the
eye as they responded our questions, and were all smiles. They even stayed
longer than they were supposed to just to make sure we all got our questions
answered, and they didn’t want to rush them. Big props to Rodrigo who was very
sick with a bad case of the flu and said he felt terrible. Despite this, he was
graceful and sweet and animated with all his answers. I am very honored to have
met these two beautiful souls.

Enough of praising these guys, here’s the interview so you
can read it for yourself:

What lead you guys to
accepting the rolls you guys had in this movie?

Jack: To me, it was such a huge honor because, as an
actor, you’re always looking for great characters. I truly believe the character
Judah Ben-Hur is one of the great characters, and you know that because 130
years ago someone wrote a book and we are re-imagining this story for the
fourth time on the movie screen. That’s what transcends everything. And I say
re-imagine because the ’59 version is a very different version than the ’29
version, and because it was made for an modern audience and it’s introducing
this amazing story to a new audience. This character really taught me a lot
about myself, about life, about how things somehow that happened 2,000 years
ago are still happening today, and this film is incredibly relevant right now,
even though it’s written 130 years ago, even though it’s based 2,000 years ago.
The subject that it’s about, it’s still happening right now. There’s so much
hatred, so much animosity in the world, and it’s kind of beautiful to be part
of something that has a message that has a way out of that: that it’s love,
that’s forgiveness, and small acts of kindness. That’s what made it special for
me.

Rodrigo: I think I had all the reasons to accept this
challenge and responsibility because it doesn’t get much bigger, more special
than that. But, also I don’t just get to play this part, but this part inside
this film, this story. I was all over the place when I was offered to play him
because I was swarmed with contradictions and anxiety and excitement, and
doubts and everything. I took it as a real, personal experience; I really
wanted to go through this experience. And the fact that I was going to be
inside such a strong, beautiful, powerful story, was –as you say here in
America –a no brainer. Actually, it was an all-brainer for me because I was all
over the place and didn’t know what to think. But that lasted one day. I went
to bed and the next day I woke up and thought ‘I really want to go through this
experience, I really want to do this’, and I tried to shut down all the voices
in my head telling me ‘are you sure? People are going to say this or that. It’s
Jesus, are you sure? It’s been done so many times, what can you add to this?’
And I said, you know what? I think it’s going to be a very unique experience
and I want to go through that and, basically, that was the instinct that told
me to take it. Life is too short to rationalize everything, just go with your
gut. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience I had.

When the last Ben-Hur
was made, it was a spectacle and it’s regarded as one of the best movies ever
made. Were you guys trepid about going into it? Technology has advanced so
much, do you feel it makes it more difficult to surprise audiences into this
one?

Jack: As you said, the ’59 version was the first time
we had seen a movie of that scale, of that epic nature, with that many horses
and extras, the time it took to make it, it was unique at that time. But also,
the style of acting back then was quite theatrical, it was a very different
style of making movies, and it’s been nearly 60 years this movie and the Wyler
version. The lovely thing that I think is so interesting is that, with all the
special effects and the pressure of the film business, what Timur [Bekmambetov,
the director of the film] and we wanted to do was bring it back to the
characters, the story. We actually didn’t use that many special effects, we
actually knew that the way to reach the audience was my immersing ourselves in
those characters, and to do all those things and put ourselves through all
these emotions and physicality; I’ve never trained harder in my life. I lost 30
lbs as a whole. Every time you see us with the horses it’s us with the horses.
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this movie, because when you say
re-imagining, it is re-imagining because most people haven’t seen the ’59
version, and so we get to tell this story to a whole new generation of people.
And I think Lew Wallace would say ‘that’s pretty cool, my book is still
filmed.’

Rodrigo: He said it all. I don’t know what else I can
really add. Maybe what I can is that the first question I asked the director in
our first meeting was: How do you feel, as a director, the responsibility of
the story, the title, the Oscars, it’s inevitable to have comparisons? And he
said, “Are you crazy? I would never touch that movie! This is a completely
different movie.” So I asked him, what do you mean? He said, “From the way I am
going to tell the story, from the way I am going to shoot it, from the
narrative standpoint, everything, and your character. And I said, well, it’s
been done so many times, are you sure you’re going to have a different take on
it? He then said, “I’m not even going to go there. It’s not about being
different; I have a very specific vision, which is that I would like Jesus to
be a very relatable figure. I want him to be very, very human.” And then he had
me look at YouTube videos as references; like, very realistic, very much the
approach he wanted to bring to the film, and for this character he said we are
going to be very careful, we want him to be very powerful, we want it to be the
way it has to be because we are going to follow the scripture. [Timur said]
“Everything is going to be the way it has to be, but, I want you to bring
something to this character that hasn’t been written, which is to be relatable
as a man, as someone who is planting seeds and showing acts of kindness and
having a relationship with another man, a fraternal relationship.” That is the
message because all his teachings are there, but I wanted all of us to feel
that we are all sons of God too, which is probably, I don’t know, what Jesus
was trying to say. We all can do this, we all should shoot in that direction
and try to be better, try to evolve, and really try to love as much as
possible.

Jack: There was such a beautiful atmosphere on the
set, which meant that everyone had a voice, and we were encouraged to talk
about it, and how do we relate to this. Because Timur is unbelievable! He is
constantly playing references [on YouTube] that he knows will relate to a
modern audience. The scene when I punch Toby (as Messala) in the face 3 times,
that’s from a clip of 2 people fighting. Everything, in a weird way, had some
sort of reference like that. And the first time me and Rodrigo met, it was like
2 guys talking, not Jesus and Judah. This guy is showing me such an act of
kindness, and that is such a relatable thing for us now. That’s not Jesus
Christ to Judah, it’s this carpenter dude doing something nice for a second.
And I thought it’s so great because it’s between 2 people right to the
crucifixion, there was a very human connection with us, and all the characters.
And it was a cool thing to explore, and it gave it a more modern take on
something.

What was the best
part of making this movie on it’s own separate entity?

Jack: As an actor, whether a several million dollar
movie, or TV show, I think you have to approach it from a place of love, the
character. I always have chosen characters because I love them, and I feel I
have a need to play them. Very much on this one, and I think the greatest thing
about this one is the journey: where you start and where you end, and everything
in between. I got to go on a journey mentally, emotionally, physically. It’s
one of my favorite things, it’s why I’ve gone into this business. It’s tough
and it’s trying, but it’s like the tougher the work, the more the rewards, and
I found that this one was the toughest of all jobs I’ve done. And it’s true,
the rewards were exponential, they were amazing. I’ve always loved cinema, and
this is the reason we go to the cinema: to watch these movies, to go through
that experience, for that moment when you forget and lose yourself. Sometimes
if I watch a movie about a painter or writer, I feel inspired to go paint or
write, and that’s something about this movie, that if someone can walk out of
it and feel they’ve actually learned something, then all the better for it, and
I feel incredibly proud about that.

Rodrigo: I’m going to try to be straight to the
point. I’ve been everywhere inside myself in the process of preparing for this
because I just didn’t know where to go. I was trying to find an answer and there
was no rational answer, there wasn’t an equation that could solve it and tell
me, ok, that’s how I play it. The approach was different than any other
character I have played because of my own impression and relationship with the
figure of Jesus in my own respect, in my own expectations, my own ideas of who
he really was. So, I really had to dive inside myself. I practiced yoga, I
practiced meditation –things I already do –but I really went for it, just to
center myself to try to be in that place. So, what I think I brought to the
film is everything I’ve got inside my heart, because I really wanted to stand
for that character, I really wanted to be my best. But, maybe, for the first
time, I was able to set my ego aside, say ‘Rodrigo doesn’t have to be a great
actor here, it’s beyond that.’ Because we, as artists, are insecure and
creative, but we want to be the best; I always want to become a better actor,
but this time I wanted to become a better person. I gave it all that I had and,
as you see in the story, Jesus punctuates the story; Jesus is not all the
story. I don’t know if I even accomplished that, and it doesn’t even matter to
me. What matters is what I went through, what that I know 100% that I am good
with myself because I gave all I had.

This movie took a lot
from you guys, the actors, physically and emotionally, and I am wondering what
scene took a lot emotionally and physically from you?

Rodrigo: I would have to say the cross, because there
was another ingredient that day, which was the weather and we all know what
Jesus is wearing on the cross. So, I didn’t have a nice, warm, cozy scarf
wrapped around my neck and it was windy and it snowed the night before, and
it’s going to be very windy and very cold. I was freezing up there and on top of
everything there were wind machines! (Jack intervened to say: “It was the
coldest day. I had clothes and thought, this is mad!”) If you for a moment stop
and think about, how must it feel to be crucified, how does it feel physically,
mentally, and emotionally? And then you have to add the scriptures of
everything that Jesus is saying up there, what did he mean? Like, the real
meaning of all those words. How do I deliver this? This is so iconic, this
changed civilization! It’s BC and AC, it’s as important and scary as it gets.
The day of, I went there, I froze, I did it. But there were 2 things that were
interesting: first, due to the physical conditions, I wasn’t able to think too
much, I was just focusing that I had to get this done. I begged the director to
please let this be just one long take because, they tried to keep us
comfortable, but it was very cold on top of this mountain, so I said, I will
give you the lines in different ways, give you different options because to
think to be up here and then have to come back, just no. And then, there was
Jack; they had developed this powerful connection, with another human being,
with a man that went through so much turmoil, and you’re cheering for him to
overcome it. He looked at me, and I felt it was a rope that pulled me, that was
the connection to the whole world, all humanity in one man, and it was very
special, and I will never forget it.

How does this movie
compare to any of the other ones you’ve taken on before in your acting career?

Jack: We were very lucky with this one because we got
to film in Matera [Italy], which is one of the oldest cities in the world. The
wonderful thing to immerse in that we were in a town that looks and feels like
Jerusalem, it was amazing. You’d think it’d be the hardest to do, to go back
2,000 years, but the way that Timur wanted to do it with this modern edge, the
way we spoke to each other in a more relatable way, it actually was one of the
easiest places to work in because time changes, but humans don’t really.

Rodrigo: It’s inevitable for me to not go to the
character when talking about the film because the character, to me, it meant so
much –and because it was taken as a personal journey as well –I can’t even
compare to the other stuff I’ve been in. I am not talking about the result, or
as an actor. As I saw the film, I remembered the experience, as a human. It
doesn’t happen all the time because I do catch myself thinking I could’ve done
this, or I could’ve said it differently when seeing my scenes because you are constantly
trying to get better. This time, I couldn’t really judge much, which is
something I probably learned with the experience itself. The city of Matera is
incredible and it just brought a lot to my imagination, my inspiration, because
when we weren’t filming, I was just walking around. The only thing that was
very difficult was that I was on a diet, and there was pasta and gelato
everywhere and I couldn’t have a piece of it. Being on a diet in Italy, it’s
sacrifice.

Do you think this
movie will bring people to Christ?

Jack: I think this isn’t discriminatory against any
religion. The great thing about it is that, the underlying message, is that of
a good one. And maybe that is Christian, or that’s another one, but what I love
about this one is that it’s about finding good and the humanity in each other,
in people. I don’t think you need to be religious to take away from this what
we have, and what the message is underneath it, and that’s the beautiful thing.
People can jump on it all they like, but until they haven’t seen it –that’s why
I am so passionate about this movie because even before it has come out,
they’re jumping on it. That’s exactly what this movie is about: fear, hatred,
all this anger and crap that is out there. It’s what people jump to, but why
not try to experience it in its moment? It’s people like you who can go out and
say you saw it and say it’s not actually a remake of the 1959 version, it’s a
stand alone movie, and it’s got a beautiful message, and it’s got good vibes,
and at the same time it’s why we go to the movie. So, if it brings people back
to Christ, or back to goodness, or back to kindness, all of it is worth it.

Rodrigo: The movie is clearly not about Christ’s
journey. What it’s about is his presence, changing people’s lives while he was
there. That’s why the writer of the book chose to tell the story from Judah’s
point of view. If you see in Wyler’s version, you don’t even see Jesus’ face.
It was a conscious choice, but I think it’s meant to go much more beyond, which
is humanizing and making the figure of Christ more relatable. It’s about how it
touches you, because at the end of the day, if it doesn’t hit you, it doesn’t
move you, nothing is going to happen; there’s no transformation. So, if the
question is if it will bring people to Christ, I not only hope so, but I think
it all depends on how you see the film. If people are ready to compare, or
judgmental, or expecting –because human beings are filled with expectations
–but, it’s not about fulfilling expectations; it’s about the experience. It’s
about letting it touch you, or not.

And that concludes the marvelous (but short) time I got to
spend with these 2 up and coming hotties of the Hollywood world.